Send me email updates about messages I've received
on the site and the latest news from The CafeMom Team.By signing up, you certify that
you are female and accept the Terms of Service and have read the
Privacy Policy.

bottle of brestmilk?

I pump & brestfeed. Im pumping because I plan on going back to work. My 3week old DD drink 3oz of milk in a bottle. Some times she'll finish it fast & some times she takes her time. My question is how long can I hold the milk for after she starts drinking it & then stops & later she wants more? should i get rid of the milk or just give her the same one?

I have seen many mothers put a bottle in the fridge. You can always take off the nipple (change it) before you put it in the fridge. If you are not wanting to waste milk, when you unfreeze it, just pour 1.5 oz in the bottle, and add another 1.5 oz if she drinks it fast.

well after you pump your aloud to have it out for 2 hours.. so if its fresh then i'd say two hours max.. depending on how much is left it might be easier to just put it away and then breast feed if she wants more later...

Breastmilk can be kept at room temperature for 8-10 hours and refrigerated for around a week, BUT once the bottle has been sucked on germs have been introduced. You should keep it no more than half an hour afterward.

There's really no need to be giving her bottles at this point, though. You could build your supply better by pumping (and storing it) and then breastfeeding immediately afterward. Breasts are never empty. This way you will have built a nice supply of frozen milk for when you start working and you'll be better able to pump the needed amount.

It's important to breastfeed in the early weeks even if you are going to work. When you breastfed your first child your breasts grow more milk glands and ducts to become better at making milk. The baby is more effective at stimulating the breast than any pump. For now you could even pump one side and have the baby nurse the other and build up a stash of extra milk for when you go back to work.

www.kellymom.com is a great breastfeeding website. It has info about how to handle and store breastmilk and working and breastfeeding.